Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID IA_FY25_Charbonnet

Fate of Emerging Contaminant Mixtures in Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Institute: Iowa
Year Established: 2025 Start Date: 2026-01-01 End Date: 2026-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $20,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $20,182

Principal Investigators: Joe Charbonnet

Project Summary: Stormwater is excess runoff generated when rainwater cannot soak into the ground. Stormwater collects pollutants as it flows across hard surfaces like roads or parking lots. Some of these pollutants include ?emerging contaminants' (such as PFAS ?forever chemicals, tire-wear chemicals) that harm life in streams. There has been little research on mixtures of emerging contaminants in Iowa, or how stormwater infrastructure can help treat them. In this work, two water quality engineering professors from UIowa and ISU will collaborate with experts in the city of Coralville, Iowa to quantify emerging contaminants in stormwater and characterize the complex mixture of pollution. We will test how effective bioretention stormwater infrastructure practices are at pollution removal and evaluate differences in design and filter media for treatment. This research project will produce important data for understanding stormwater quality in Iowa, with potential to inform practices that result in improved water quality for streams.